The eyes of the political world were on the federal court in Miami Tuesday afternoon, where Donald Trump appeared to face and plead not guilty on 37 charges related to his handling of classified documents.
But it will be in Iowa where Republicans — both voters and leaders alike — will reckon with the former president’s second indictment in a year and are first in line to decide whether a candidate with mounting legal concerns can still effectively lead the GOP and take back the White House.
Trump, in a radio interview with Des Moines’ WHO on Monday evening, repeated his claim that “we did nothing wrong” in the classified documents case, pivoting to accusations against Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden.
“It’s such a disgraceful situation what they’re doing. It’s just a continuation of the same which has been going on from the day we came down the escalator,” Trump said, referring to his announcement of his 2016 presidential bid.
And he continued to tout his support and polling lead in Iowa, counting on the first state that will cast votes in the 2024 presidential election to remain at his side as he fights battles both legal and political.
“I tell you, the people of Iowa get it,” Trump said.
From USA TODAY:Live updates on Trump’s court appearance in Florida
What Iowa voters have said about Trump’s legal battles
Trump appears unlikely to halt his 2024 bid even if he is convicted on the federal charges, telling reporters last weekend that he would stay in the race. He’s not legally barred from doing so.
But some caucusgoers who see his circumstances as increasingly perilous are hedging their bets.
“Well, I am a Trump fan,” said Linda Rosewall, a 71-year-old retiree from outside of Des Moines. “But in case the other side makes it so he can’t be on… then I have to have another.”
Rosewall was waiting in line to enter U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Roast and Ride” event at the state fairgrounds on June 3. Almost every major candidate was set to speak, except for Trump. She clarified that she was referring to Trump’s ongoing legal battles, and, like many Republicans, she characterized them as politically motivated attacks.
LaTomah Hauff, a Sioux City resident who went to Sioux Center to see Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, said in an interview before Trump’s indictment that although she had supported him, “I don’t know that he should run because he’s a target.”
“Hillary (Clinton) loses how many emails and she’s just fine,” Hauff said. “And Trump has presidential papers in his home that were packed by the GSA, and he’s a criminal. … No matter what the guy does, he doesn’t have a decent chance. And I do think it could be a distraction.”
More:Find when and where to see presidential candidates in Iowa
Pat McCarville, a Republican-leaning independent, said he had voted for Trump, but is now leaning toward other options. That’s mostly because of Trump’s personality and “too much division,” he said, but he acknowledged that Trump could “get tied up in court.”
Still, many in Trump’s coalition of loyalists in Iowa are sticking by him, urging him to take the court battles in stride. Some view it as a badge of honor.
“I trust him,” said Lois Gorman, a 73-year-old retiree from Altoona. “And every time a Democrat brings up another accusation, especially a 20-something-year-old accusation that never came up before, it makes my support for him even stronger. Because he’s survived so much crap. He shouldn’t have to. If he wasn’t a multimillionaire, he couldn’t survive this.”
After Trump’s first indictment in state court in New York, relating to allegations of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, Iowa Republican leaders told the Register they believed the saga would coalesce support around the former president.
Republican political consultant Alice Stewart said that although that indictment led to a “short-term boost” in support, “what’s the staying power as time goes on and there are potentially other legal entanglements?”
2024 Iowa caucuses:Why Donald Trump’s arrest may help his presidential campaign in Iowa
GOP rivals toe the line on Trump’s indictment
Many of Trump’s Republican challengers released statements shortly after he said he would be indicted, criticizing the Department of Justice and attacking the case as politically motivated in what amounted to a defense of the front-runner.
As details in the indictment were released, however, including color photos of boxes stashed in a bathroom in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, several candidates began adjusting their message.
Former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley called Trump “reckless” in a Fox News interview on Monday, saying if the indictment were true, “this puts all of our military men and women in danger.” And U.S. Sen. Tim Scott said in South Carolina that “this case is a serious case with serious allegations.”
2024 Iowa caucuses:Trump’s campaign touts grassroots support in Iowa. Will it hold up as GOP field grows?
DeSantis, considered Trump’s most prominent challenger, has yet to attack Trump directly over the indictment. Rather, he went after the Department of Justice, arguing it had been “weaponized” politically.
And Vivek Ramaswamy, an author and entrepreneur, appeared in Miami on Tuesday morning ahead of Trump’s court appearance. He urged all candidates in the GOP presidential field to pledge to pardon Trump if they are elected.
Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed reporting.
Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.
